Central DL Eloi Kwete will play football at NAU, instead of UMass

With a coaching change at the University of Massachusetts, Phoenix Central senior defensive lineman Eloi Kwete will stay closer to home to play college football.

Kwete said he will play at Northern Arizona.

"It’s close to home and far enough to live college life and experience it," said Kwete, who in early November had committed to UMass when Mark Whipple was still coach. "I talked to my family (and) coaches (including former Central head coach Jon Clanton)."

Clanton said that new UMass coach Walt Bell, who was hired in early December before the Early Signing Day, "pulled (Kwete's) offer."